Domestic Campaigns Call December 2

I was on the Domestic Campaigns conference call Tuesday night. Jos Linn led the call. Meredith Dodson, manager of domestic campaigns and currently on maternity leave, was on the call, as was Jinny Vogts, RESULTS Board member, and Joanne Carter, Executive Director of RESULTS.

The way things look, the campaigns this year will focus on appropriations for HeadStart and daycare; healthcare for all; and refundable tax credits (making the $8500 income threshold for the Child Tax Credit permanent, and the Earned Income Tax Credit for single/childless taxpayers).

I made an impassioned plea for RESULTS to work on Immigration Reform, since current US Immigration policy creates poverty and denies undocumented workers protection under Minimum Wage and Workers Compensation laws. I didn't get anything but a polite response, so I don't think I was effective in arguing my case. But I tried.

Domestic Call December 4

The only thing going on in Congress is the fact that they increased unemployment benefits with the most recent economic stimulus package. Seven weeks for most areas and 20 weeks for areas with high unemployment. Word is Congress will wait until after the Inauguration January 20 to act on further economic stimulus bills.

I reported that I had sent RESULTS a check for $600 in November from bread buttering, and that we were going to send another $100 in December. (I needed that money to cover expenses for December bread buttering. RESULTS will be happy to get our November check and happy to get our December check.)

Global Call December 3

I finally have internet again, after 10 days of being offline. Good to be back!!

The call tonight focused on the World Bank letter in the Senate. There are 11 signers right now and it closes on Friday. I'll call Senators Grassley and Harkin tomorrow to see if I can get them to sign on.

The conference call December 13 isn't confirmed as to a speaker. It may be RESULTS Executive Director Joanne Carter as speaker. I'm going to take December off from the conference calls as I'll be coming off a week of fundraising. I can give out the number to call in and the Library is reserved for those of you who want to listen in.

I had a great conversation with new RESULTS activist Mohamed Soliman tonight. Some exciting ideas to explore at our December 15 planning meeting.

Domestic Call November 20

Douglas, Tom and I discussed the November action, which is to talk to members of Congress about the economic stimulus package. Douglas noted that Congress decided not to bail out the American automobile manufacturers after the three CEOs flew in private jets to DC, at a cost of $20,000. A first-class ticket would have been $800. Douglas mentioned that you don't wear a fur coat to beg for a loan.

We talked about fundraising and I reported that Cedar Rapids is looking at $700 profit on November herb bread. That's over the goal we had set of $600, so RESULTS will be pleased. We've collected about $500 so far. I'm still waiting for funds from Peoples Church and about 10 customers from Christ Church to pick up their bread and pay.

A sailor and a pirate go into a bar and start drinking and talking. The sailor notices that the pirate has a peg leg, a hook on one arm and an eye patch. The sailor asks, "How did you wind up with a peg leg?" The pirate answers, "I fell overboard into a pool of sharks. As my shipmates were pulling me back onboard, a shark bit off my leg at the knee." "Wow," said the sailor. "And how about that hook? What happened there?" "We were boarding an enemy ship and fighting with swords and one of the enemy took his sword and cut my hand clean off." "Wow," said the sailor. "And how about the eye patch?" "One day," said the pirate, "a seagull pooped in my eye." "And you lost your eye to bird poop?" asked the sailor. "Well," said the pirate, "it was my first day with the hook."

Have a wonderful thanksgiving!

Global Call November 19

There is only one legislative push right now: the Senate World Bank letter. It is worth it to keep working on World Bank letters this week as long as able to reach someone in the office. Next week is a lost cause because people are on break. We sent letters to both Senate offices Monday night. I will call Friday to follow up on the letters.

We talked at length about fundraisers. Allison agreed that I need to get some help on bread buttering. Joyce Conley has volunteered, as has Vikki Waller. Kate Rose has volunteered to put the labels on the ID tag for the outside of the bags. I have sent the task list to Leslee Sandberg and am thinking about what tasks for December can be delegated. One thing that will help is that we have the kitchen on Monday, December 8 at 4 p.m. through Tuesday night. That will make butter preparation easier! Working with frozen butter is very difficult and time-consuming.

Preparing herb bread with the proceeds going to fight hunger and poverty is a very meaningful activity!

A New Project

I got an email today from Marna at the Muslim American Society. She is a flood victim and is looking for some guidance on getting federal flood relief funds out of the Appropriations Committee and onto the Senate floor for debate. I'm going to meet with her Friday at 2, after prayers. I may go to prayers. Haven't been since summer before last. The quiet is very refreshing.

The flood relief effort is not a RESULTS campaign, but I got clearance from Douglas Lichtermann to work on it with Marna. I don't know how much help I'm going to be, but I'll do my best.

Domestic Call November 6

Paul from Minneapolis talked about the recount in the Senate race in Minnesota. He said it may take a month. Less than 500 votes separate the incumbent Coleman (R) and challenger Al Franken (D). I'm so glad there was no disputing the presidential race. My brother in Texas was concerned about the violence that might erupt in Grant Park had the results not been what they were. I must be really naive -- that thought never occurred to me.

The conference call this week, Saturday at 11:30 a.m., is going to be about the new Congress coming in January.

The Senate is coming back on the 17th and will be in session for three days. We'll be sending our Senate microcredit letters at exactly the right time, as we will meet on the evening of Monday, November 17, and I'll fax our letters that night.

Global Call November 5

Allison started the calling asking what our feelings were about the outcome of the elections yesterday, especially related to our RESULTS work. I realized how new I am to RESULTS in that it has finally become clear to me that poverty and hunger can be ended in my lifetime. I imagine you already feel that and that I'm coming late to the party. But I'm finally here.

The Enzi-Brown World Bank microcredit letter in the Senate has four signers right now -- one Democrat and three Republicans. Allison seemed surprised when I said we were going to work on not only Senator Harkin, but Senator Grassley as well. Pleasantly surprised.

John and Polly Ely were the RESULTS group in Cedar Rapids for years. And I feel like this is our opportunity to honor them, since they were such fans of microcredit, to work on getting our Members of Congress to sign on to the World Bank letters. We've finally made inroads with Congressman Loebsack; his signature on the House letter was the first time he's responded to global poverty requests from us. And now it's time for us to move on to the Senate letter.

The conference call this Saturday will be about the outcome of the elections and how it affects our work as RESULTS volunteers; it will also be about the World Bank letters in the House and Senate. And it will be about fundraising. The global call is at 1 p.m. this Saturday at Christ Church.

I am so proud of them

We had our final training session tonight. You should have been there to witness the Muslim American Society group do the RESULTS Basics test! I was so proud of them I could bust. And we had a gentleman sit in on the training who before the night was over asked to join RESULTS. His name is Fousseni Assoumanou and he is originally from West Africa. Then after the training Mona Elkhaldy introduced me to Dhuha Tawil and we talked about microcredit and we talked about lobbying and she wants to be part of RESULTS as well! I am so excited for the November 17 meeting when everyone gets to meet everyone.

I have learned a lot from our newest activists. Kelly Soliman works at HACAP and sees poverty and hunger every day. Idris Abdul Hafiz is an engineer and has an engineer's organization that he would like to collaborate with on RESULTS issues. Aisha Nichols is interested in early childhood education as she runs the daycare at MAS. Mohamed Soliman is a genius at graphic design and wants to work with the media. And Mohamed Taha wasn't able to make it tonight but I saw him before the training session and he is so enthused about working with RESULTS.

I am just so grateful to God for growing our RESULTS group this way.

Domestic Call October 30

Lois and I were the only group leaders on the call with Douglas, so it was a quick call today. We talked about the October action of writing letters to the editor about healthcare for all. And Douglas asked about fundraising -- how we were coming with our "bread bake-off," as he lovingly called it.

Meredith Dodson had her baby -- about eight days after her due date. But both mom and baby are doing well. They haven't named him yet as they are waiting a little bit to see which of the names they've picked fits his personality. You can see his pictures at http://rookieindc.blogspot.com/.

I reported that tonight is the final training session for our activists at the Muslim American Society and that in November they would be joining the rest of the Cedar Rapids group, who are quite excited about them joining in. Lois and Douglas were both very pleased indeed.

Douglas is going to help people in St. Petersburg, FL get to the polls on Tuesday. Lois is going to work in her Congressman's office to help people in Baltimore get to the polls. I'm going to work as a greeter in my precinct, welcoming people, getting them to sign the roster for the poll watchers and directing them to the correct line. Then I'll thank them for coming in after they've voted. My mother is going to come to my apartment in the afternoon to feed Piphi her lunch. I don't want her to go hungry as I have to be gone from 5:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Piphi hisses at Mom, but she takes it in stride; she just says, "Don't bite the hand that feeds you."

There was an older man who lived in Idaho and had always planted potatoes in his garden. But he was getting older and feeling too weak to go out and plow the garden. So he wrote to his son, Bubba, who was in prison. So he wrote this letter.

Dear Bubba,
I'm feeling too old to plow the garden for potatoes this year. I'm afraid without you here I won't be able to do it.
Love,
Dad

Dear Dad,
For heaven's sake, don't plow the garden! That's where I buried the bodies!
Love,
Bubba

The next day a group of agents from the FBI came and dug all through the garden looking for bodies, but found none. They apologized to the old man for the damage they had done to his property and left. The next day the man received a second letter from his son.

Dear Dad,
Now you can plant your potatoes. That's the best I could do under the circumstances.
Love,
Bubba

Global Call Oct 29

News is spreading about Congressman Loebsack signing on to the World Bank letter. Allison said she's telling everyone about it. This is his first time in responding to a RESULTS request for global issues, and trusting he's going to be reelected, I'm looking forward to working with him more in the future. He is so sensitive to domestic poverty, I am tremendously encouraged that now he is looking at global poverty with the same heart.

Our next job is the Senate World Bank letter. It's only open until November 19, and our meeting is November 17, so we will be writing letters that night. I'll have your letters to Loebsack from the October meeting that you can use as a template if you like. Also, the activists from the Muslim American Society will be at our November meeting and will share the letters they wrote at their last training session.

Domestic Call October 23

We didn't have anything new to talk about today. Healthcare for All is the action for October and fundraising efforts were updated. I shared about how well the training at the Muslim American Society went. Douglas was interested to hear that one of the six had only been in the country four days.

I haven't yet called Senators Grassley and Harkin. I also have to call Congressman Loebsack's Washington office to check on when he is going to sign the World Bank letter. I also need to call his Cedar Rapids office to get on the list for a face-to-face meeting.

Global Call October 22

Allison started the call by reading a portion of the commencement address given by Bill Gates at Harvard. Truly inspiring. She is going to send it to me and I will share it here. It can be found at the end of this blog entry.

We're still working on getting Congressman Loebsack to sign on to the World Bank letter. At Cornell last Friday seven students made phone calls to his Washington office. At our meeting Monday we wrote six letters. At the training last night at the Muslim American Society I gave the six new RESULTS volunteers the Congressman's phone number and Megan's name, and the laser talk from the website, and encouraged them to get their feet wet by making a call and leaving a message for Meagan. I left seven messages before I got to speak with her personally. Persistence is the key, I guess.

The Senate World Bank letter is now ready so I'm going to make calls tomorrow morning to Senators Grassley and Harkin.

I need to tell you something exciting about the training last night at MAS. A week ago there was a man in Egypt who committed suicide because he couldn't afford to feed his 12 children. We talked about what a tragedy that was, and what a microcredit loan could have meant to that family. More powerful stories are going to be shared.

You'll be truly excited by these newest members of our group, as I am. During welcome and introductions at our November meeting we'll see how much we all have in common, and how we are all going to be enriched by these new relationships.

Bill Gates address:
You graduates came to Harvard at a different time. You know more about the world’s inequities than the classes that came before. In your years here, I hope you’ve had a chance to think about how – in this age of accelerating technology – we can finally take on these inequities, and we can solve them.

Imagine, just for the sake of discussion, that you had a few hours a week and a few dollars a month to donate to a cause – and you wanted to spend that time and money where it would have the greatest impact in saving and improving lives. Where would you spend it?
For Melinda and for me, the challenge is the same: how can we do the most good for the greatest number with the resources we have.

During our discussions on this question, Melinda and I read an article about the millions of children who were dying every year in poor countries from diseases that we had long ago made harmless in this country. Measles, malaria, pneumonia, hepatitis B, yellow fever. One disease I had never even heard of, rotavirus, was killing half a million kids each year – none of them in the United States.

We were shocked. We had just assumed that if millions of children were dying and they could be saved, the world would make it a priority to discover and deliver the medicines to save them. But it did not. For under a dollar, there were interventions that could save lives that just weren’t being delivered.

If you believe that every life has equal value, it’s revolting to learn that some lives are seen as worth saving and others are not. We said to ourselves: “This can’t be true. But if it is true, it deserves to be the priority of our giving.”

So we began our work in the same way anyone here would begin it. We asked: “How could the world let these children die?”

The answer is simple, and harsh. The market did not reward saving the lives of these children, and governments did not subsidize it. So the children died because their mothers and their fathers had no power in the market and no voice in the system.
But you and I have both.

We can make market forces work better for the poor if we can develop a more creative capitalism – if we can stretch the reach of market forces so that more people can make a profit, or at least make a living, serving people who are suffering from the worst inequities. We also can press governments around the world to spend taxpayer money in ways that better reflect the values of the people who pay the taxes.

If we can find approaches that meet the needs of the poor in ways that generate profits for business and votes for politicians, we will have found a sustainable way to reduce inequity in the world. This task is open-ended. It can never be finished. But a conscious effort to answer this challenge will change the world.

Domestic Call October 16

Douglas asked if we'd written our LTEs (letters to the editor) about healthcare. That will be an option for us next Monday night. We'll also have the option on writing to Congressman Loebsack about signing on to the World Bank President letter on microcredit.

Global and Domestic Calls

We're still working on the House microcredit letter. I have to call Meagan Linn back (in Loebsack's office) and follow up on him signing it. I also want to talk to Jos to see if we should be working on Bruce Braley in Iowa's First District, since there's no RESULTS group there.

I'm watching one of my great-nieces, Raelynn, age 6, on Friday night and Saturday, and there is a wedding at Christ Episcopal Church, so I'm not driving in for the conference calls. I may be asked to share about our herb bread fundraiser on the domestic call, so I hope Raelynn understands that Aunt Diane will be on the phone for an hour on Saturday. She'll have her videos with her and I'll get out a snack for her and Piphi should leave her alone.

The domestic call today focused on fundraising. Through our conversations, I've decided to move up to the next level of giving to RESULTS and send them a check every month rather than just once a year. The RESULTS staff has been tremendously supportive in what I find myself doing. Lisa Marchall sent me her materials from the new member training calls and I'm adapting them for the training we're going to do Oct. 21 and 28 at the Muslim American Society.

Speaking of that training, does anyone want to go along on the 28th, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. to share what RESULTS means to you? I had six people sign up, so I'm looking forward to them joining our group. Three men and three women. Leland will be pleased to not be the only man anymore!

And speaking of outreach, I'm still waiting to hear about doing an informational meeting at Temple Judah on the southeast side of town. I haven't called Rabbi Aaron lately and I should. Been up to my elbows in butter!

Domestic Call Thursday, Oct 2

I updated the group leaders on the success of the informational meeting at MAS Iowa (Muslim American Society). Next week we are going to talk about giving to RESULTS. Just as a reminder, at our January meeting I'll be asking for your annual $35 dues checks.

October 1 Global Call

First item of business, the Holt-Carter letter to the World Bank on microcredit is in the House waiting for Dave Loebsack's signature. I keep trying to get through to Meagan Linn. I will keep trying.

The Senate and House both have passed the Comprehensive TB Elimination Act, but at a dollar amount that is lower than in the original bill. Not to worry, says Allison. This can be corrected in the appropriations process. The bill includes money for med research, which will benefit TB pts worldwide.

October 11 global conference call will focus on fundraising. Allison said she was going to need a dollar amount for each group as a goal. I gave her $600. I talked to Trudy Stewart today -- the woman who used to coordinate the herb bread. She said people are already calling her. I'm going to have to start making some phone calls next week.

Also, heard today from Ken Patterson that his mom lives in Dubuque and he would like to start a RESULTS global group there. I know a Lutheran pastor who's been in Dubuque about two years so I'll call him tomorrow and see what kind of progress I can make toward Ken making a presentation at his church.

DTF Pilot City Project: Muslim American Society

I'm sorry you couldn't join me for a totally enjoyable evening at the new mosque, the Muslim American Society. Imam Ahmed Elkhaldy told me to be there at 6:30, so I arrived at 6:20 to set up all my paperwork. There was a man praying in the prayer room for the longest time. When he was finished, it was 6:30 and I asked him if others would be coming, thinking maybe I had the wrong night as it was just he and I in the building. But no, he said, others would be here tonight about 7.

When he finished praying, he came in and turned on the lights in the room where I was and came over to talk with me. I told him who I was and what I was there for. I asked him where he was from and he said Bangladesh. So naturally I asked if he knew of Mohammed Yunus. Not only did he know OF Dr. Yunus, he had worked with him as a colleague at a university in Bangladesh. Dr. Sultan Ahmed was this gentleman's name. He had come to America three years ago to help raise his twin granddaughters. He handed me a two-page piece he had written about the candidates for President, and I was able to quote from it during my RESULTS presentation. I made a new friend.

We broke fast about 7 with dates and juice. Then we went in for evening prayer. The only Arabic I know is Allah, the word for God, so I was lost, but I prayed silently, thanking God for the opportunity to talk with these kind people about RESULTS.

Dinner was catered from Taste of India. Not too spicy, although I am burping something tonight. Then Imam asked if I was ready to do the presentation and off we went.

I teared up during the telling of my story. I always do. But they accepted me and listened well to the rest of the presentation. Of the 21 adults there, 12 wrote a letter to Senator Grassley thanking him for his fine work on the Child Tax Credit expansion and asking him to hold fast to the $8500 threshold on earned income. I faxed those letters on my way home so they'll be waiting for the Senator when he gets into the office tomorrow. I think he'll be surprised at all the thank you's.

Five people signed up for training. Thanks be to God!!! I had been sweating all day what if no one signed up? We're going to do the training at the mosque once Ramadan is over.

This is a very kind and caring community. They went out of their way to welcome me and make me feel at home. I did wear my Egyptian head scarf -- the long black one that makes me look like a nun. I wore it out of respect, and so that my uncovered head wouldn't be a distraction to anyone, so they could listen and not have to be thinking about who is this woman with her hair uncovered? It kept falling off because it's so long in the back, so I just kept pulling it back onto my head when it would fall too far down. No one seemed to mind. I told them up front I was Episcopalian, so they knew I was a rookie with head scarves.

Oh, and I forgot my shoes. Well, not really forgot them -- I left by a different door than I had come in and I could see my shoes on the rack in the next room but the door was locked. So I'll get them tomorrow. Believe it or not, I do have another pair of flip flops. But I drove home barefoot, which is against the law. But I didn't get caught. And no one at church seemed to notice when I went in barefoot to fax the letters. It was kind of an adventure!

I know your thoughts and prayers were with me. I could feel it. Thank you. Thank you for all you do for the Cedar Rapids RESULTS Group, and to support me as your group leader.

Domestic Call September 25

Today we talked about the Child Tax Credit expansion having passed the Senate two days ago and the importance of communicating with Senator Grassley and the media on keeping the earned income threshold at $8500.

Paul in Minneapolis is looking for a good fundraising project. He thinks herb bread would be good.

Global Call September 24

Allison started the call by reminding us all of what Martin Sheen said at the Emmy's: Decisions are made by the people who show up.

RESULTS volunteers, we are the people who show up with letter after letter, call after call, month in and month out. And we influence the decisions made on Capitol Hill.

The Domestic TB Bill is being blocked by one Senator. RESULTS people in Texas and South Carolina have put on the pressure and now the bill will proceed in the Senate. It has passed out of the House Committee and is ready for debate in the House.

There are three items I'm going to talk to Loebsack's office about tomorrow:
1) The Holt-Carter letter to the World Bank asking that more microcredit money be made available to the very poor;
2) The Yunus Congressional Gold Medal Bill -- the Senate has the required two-thirds votes; the House does not have the votes yet;
3) House Resolution 1268 to Reform the way Foreign Aid is Delivered. The goal is to have 100 cosponsors. There are 40 to date.

If you want to call Loebsack's office, too, ask to talk to Meagan Linn or the Legislative Director, Kara Marchione. The Congressman's Washington number is 202-225-6576. If you call, please drop me an email to let me know you called, what you talked about, and what the response was. (So I can report it to Allison next week.)

Domestic Call September 18

Please call toll-free at 888-245-0215 and ask to talk to Congressman Loebsack's office, Senator Grassley's office and Senator Harkin's office, to urge them to vote for the $8500 earned income threshold on the Child Tax Credit. The vote will be on Friday.

Once upon a time there was a US Navy Captain who commanded a destroyer. One night the captain saw lights ahead on a collision course, so using Morse Code he signaled "To avoid a collision, turn 10 degrees East." Back came a light signal in Morse Code. "To avoid a collision, you should turn your vessel 10 degrees West." The Captain was a bit indignant and signaled back, "I am a US Navy Captain. Turn your vessel." And a light signal came back, "I am a Seaman Second Class. Turn your vessel." Outraged at this insubordination, the Captain signaled, "I command a destroyer. Get out of my way." And a signal came back, "I am a lighthouse. Your call."

Diversity Task Force Call September 17

We were a small, but mighty group tonight. Meredith from DC, Betsy from Miami and myself. Betsy is aligned now with the Global AIDS Alliance, working to recruit new RESULTS members while working for the group.

The survey of grassroots members from the Marketing Committee of the Board will be out on Monday. It includes Diversity Task Force questions.

Meredith asked me to create a blog for the grassroots members to see notes from the DTF calls.

RESULTADAS volunteers in Mexico will be asked if they can help translate RESULTS materials into Spanish.

I'm going to talk to Douglas tomorrow (our Domestic Regional Coordinator and a RESULTS Board member) about the DTF talking with the two new grassroots Board members to be announced in October. In addition, we would like to have all Board members join us on a DTF conference call.

There is a possibility I'll be going to DC in December for a weekend to talk with Regional Coordinators about the DTF.

Domestic Call September 11

The Senate is going to vote again on the Tax Extenders Bill, SR3530, which includes a minimum income threshhold of $8500 for the Child Tax Credit. I'll call Senator Grassley's office this week and talk to Ryan Abrams, Finance Aide, about our concern for the 100,000 Iowa children who will receive the tax credit by lowering the income threshhold.

Douglas was surprised and delighted to hear about our herb bread fundraiser.

Meredith sent an email from Washington about ICAN meetings around the state dealing with the healthcare crisis and need for reform. There is a meeting on Tuesday, September 30 in Cedar Rapids at 6:30 p.m. at 220 Prospect Pl SW. I plan on going. If anyone wants to carpool, let me know.

Global Call September 10

Three items of interest today.

First, House Resolution 1268 on Foreign Aid Reform. RESULTS is hoping for 100 co-sponsors for this resolution which would make US foreign aid more effective and less self-serving. For instance, USAID is required to purchase food in the US and ship it on US vessels rather than purhasing food overseas, which would cost 50 percent less than US food, or shipping on foreign vessels which would significantly reduce delivery costs. So far there are 27 co-sponsors. I will call Congressman Loebsack's office to lobby for him to support this resolution.

Second, the House letter to the World Bank on microcredit. You may have seen news of this long-awaited letter in the RESULTS weekly updates. When I call Loebsack's office on HR 1268 I will also see about him signing the letter.

Finally, fundraising. RESULTS needs about $50,000 to cover shortfalls in income and larger than expected expenses, so groups are asked to do a fall fundraiser. When I told Allison we were working on the marketing phase for herb bread sales, she was delighted. I ordered bread yesterday, which will be delivered Monday afternoon. I also bought butter and it's in the frig at Christ Church. I will be in Monday afternoon to start softening the butter so it's ready to go at 7 when we get together. I'm also going to buy a box of non-latex gloves so we can observe proper food-handling procedures. This is going to be fun!

Coming Up

I had the flu last week, so I didn't get my blogging done. Sorry!

Coming up Saturday are the monthly conference calls. Domestic call at 11:30 a.m. will feature a speaker on the $8,500 minimum threshhold for the Child Tax Credit (I understand). The global call at 1 p.m. will feature the woman who started Jamii Bora, the microcredit institution in Kenya that lends to beggars. I will be there for both calls. Please join me if your schedule permits.

On the 15th, the third Monday, we'll be buttering bread in the Parish Hall (downstairs). An elevator is available. We'll also have an opportunity to talk with Leland about what he's learned from Basics online. With this final training session he will be an official card-carrying member of RESULTS! Welcome, Leland!!!!! I'll also have sign-up sheets for you so you can get people on board to buy herb bread.

The microcredit letter is ready now. I am going to call Congressman Loebsack's office on Tuesday to introduce the letter and ask him to sign it. I plan to use the story Dr. Muhammed Yunus told about the first thing a woman does with proceeds from her microcredit loan, which is not to feed her family better or send her children to school. No, the first thing she does is to buy her children back from forced labor. She had to sell her five-year-old son to a neighbor because she couldn't afford to feed him. But now, with microcredit backing, she can buy his freedom and bring him home.

On Monday of this week I am making follow-up calls to Pastor Offt of Trinity Lutheran, Fr. Pedasky of Immaculate Conception and Rabbi Sherman of Temple Judah to see about setting up informational meetings in their congregations. Please pray for these three men that they are receptive to the RESULTS opportunities for their communities.

Did you happen to see my picture on an op-ed last Sunday? The poverty numbers from the Census Bureau came in and the Gazette published our op-ed. You can read it on the RESULTS page of the Christ Church website -- www.christepiscopal.org/RESULTS.html.

Op-Ed for Poverty Day

Create an Economic Recovery That Helps All Americans

By Diane John-Smith

By official reckonings America was in a period of economic recovery from 2001 to 2007. As I know too well, many of us did not share in the good times. For the last three years, since I became disabled, I’ve lived in poverty. Now my grandnieces and grandnephew, ages five, five and six, live in poverty as well, even though they live with both parents and their father works fulltime. New data shows that we are not alone.

New data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau show that 317,000 Iowans lived in poverty in 2007—over 90,000 of them children.

As troubling as the 2007 numbers are, things are even worse today.

In Iowa unemployment rose from 3.8 percent in July 2007 to 4.3 percent this July. According to the Food Research Action Council, over 256,000 Iowans participated in the Food Stamp program this past May, nearly a 7% increase over the same month in 2007. Rising food and gas costs are hitting my family and others hard.

But there is plenty that can be done to both help people who are suffering and spur economic growth. In fact, economists say that the surest way to boost the economy is to help those most in need. “If you’re somebody who lives paycheck to paycheck, you’re more likely to spend that extra dollar,” said Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke.

When Congress returns in September, it should heed Bernanke’s words and quickly pass an economic stimulus bill including extra weeks of jobless benefits for workers in high-unemployment states, a temporary increase in food stamps for low-income families, and more help for poor families facing skyrocketing heating bills this winter.

These measures are effective ways to jump start the economy. They’re also critically important to needy families. The average food stamp benefit is still only about $1 per person per meal. And poor families are facing a roughly 40 percent increase in home heating costs this winter. There is no reason why vulnerable Americans like my nieces and nephew should face health-threatening hardships.

Congress also has the opportunity to reduce poverty by passing legislation to expand the Child Tax Credit. In Iowa, 22,000 children would get a new credit and 77,000 would get a larger credit, providing some relief to working poor families as they struggle to lift their children out of poverty.

All of us should hold our leaders accountable to do something about poverty. Actions Congress takes in the next few weeks could be a lifeline to millions of low-income families throughout the country – including many like mine, right here in Iowa.

Diane John-Smith of Marion is group leader of the Cedar Rapids Area RESULTS group. RESULTS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan citizens grassroots organization which creates the public and political will to end poverty and hunger.

Healthcare Meeting with Jenelle Krishamoorthy

Where do I begin? Judy Zobel started the healthcare discussion with some facts and figures, but most interestingly, told her story of having lost her employer-provided healthcare coverage and needing to pay $500/mo premiums with a $2500 deductible. She considers herself lucky that she has the means to pay for the coverage. People of lesser means do not and are part of the 27 million American uninsured.

Then I was up. I told how I had found the application for IowaCare in the Welfare office and had to be not only assertive but aggressive with the IowaCare gatekeeper to get a mammogram scheduled. My mom's breast cancer was found through a mammogram, so it's important for me to have them every year. Jenelle was engaged. Then I told of the time I came down with a cold and had a cough still after three weeks and so called IowaCare. They told me it would be two months before I could be seen in a clinic. I gave up on them and three weeks later still had the cough so went to the Community Health Free Clinic where they found I had irreparable lung damage. I explained that now that I'm on disability, I'm also on Medicare and I get to see my own doctor who knows my history, and that this kind of coverage should be available to everyone -- paid for by the government with medical decisions made by the physician and patient. There are 18,000 deaths every year among people 18-64 because of uninsurance. That is simply not acceptable.

I felt validated to have someone in Janelle's senior position not only listening to me, but hearing my story and agreeing that these things aren't right. BTW, when the meeting was over, Janelle hugged me and told me to keep in touch. I'm going to work with her to see if when she's in Cedar Rapids we can meet with her. The Des Moines group is going to set up a meeting by videoconference with Janelle after the election. My hope is that we can meet with her in person. You'll like her. I know it.

Our request of Janelle was that Senator Harkin champion single-payer healthcare coverage next year. She was polite, but blunt. The public, the insurance companies, businesses, healthcare providers, all want healthcare reform, but the political atmosphere is such that single-payer just won't fly. She thought of one Senator who is always working outside the envelope who could introduce such a bill, but that so much depended on who is elected to the White House. McCain doesn't want healthcare reform. Obama's plan hasn't been fleshed out yet. That would be up to Congress.

Right now Senator Harkin is holding hearings with everyone involved in the debate, bringing them all to the table, to gather information and build trust in the concept of a paradigm shift in American healthcare, or what Senator Harkin calls, "sick care." One point Jenelle made was that under the current system physicians and other providers get paid for the number of procedures they do, when they should be getting paid based on outcomes. She said she doesn't get paid based on the amount of work she does, but on the quality of her work. I thought that was quite interesting.

Let's discuss this more while we butter bread in September. Also, we will be having a training conversation with Leland in September. I'll be interested to see what he's picked up from working through the Basics materials.

Diversity Task Force Pilot Cities Project

Things have been busy with the Pilot Cities Project here in Cedar Rapids. Last Tuesday I had a meeting with the Rev. Jonathan Offt of Trinity Lutheran to talk about RESULTS and the working poor. Trinity has 40 families who were flooded. I didn't get a definite yes, but there was certainly interest in what RESULTS could do for people. On Friday I met with the Rev. Christopher Pedasky of Immaculate Conception about the Hispanic community that worships there. He wanted more brochures so he could put them out and see if people picked them up. I took him 10 brochures in English and 10 in Spanish. I will check back with both spiritual leaders in two weeks to follow up.

I just got back from a meeting with Rabbi Aaron Sherman at Temple Judah. He is very interested in members of Temple joining the Cedar Rapids RESULTS group. We're thinking of doing the informational meeting sometime in September around the High Holy Days.

On another note, I will be talking about my two years of being uninsured while I was unemployed and waiting for my disability hearing at the meeting with Senator Harkin's aide, Janelle. The topic is healthcare and we want the Senator to lead the charge in the Senate for a single-payer healthcare bill.

Domestic Call August 7

I reported to Douglas Lichterman, our Regional Coordinator, that I would make two contacts for the RESULTS Diversity Task Force by August 20 -- Rabbi Aaron Sherman of Temple Judah and Fr. Nils Hernandez of Immaculate Conception. I also reported about our opportunity with STEP students from Cornell and Douglas suggested I get an outline from Meredith Dodson of the Washington RESULTS office. Meredith is on vacation right now, so next week I'll email her and see what resources she can share.

Douglas talked about the August recess and the importance of getting meetings with members of Congress. I explained that Jos had suggested we meet with Loebsack here in Cedar Rapids before the end of the year, and that so many people were on vacation this month that we'd skip the August recess opportunity and shoot for something in the fall.

A young woman brought her fiance home to meet her parents. They gave a fancy dinner to meet the young man and after dinner, the father asked to talk to the finance privately. He asked what the young man did for a living and how he planned to support his daughter. The young man said, "I study the Torah." The father asked what plans the young man had for a house for her daughter to live in. "I will study the Torah and God will provide." So the father asked about a ring for his daughter. Again the young man said, "I will study the Torah and God will provide." Finally, the father asked about children and how the young man intended to support a family. "I will study the Torah, and God will provide." The father ended the meeting cordially and later spoke to the young woman's mother. "The bad news is he has no job and no plans for a job. The good news is he thinks I'm God."

Global Call August 6

Because of the August Recess it seems I was the only one on the call with our Regional Coordinator Allison Gallaher. We talked about the request we've had from Crickett Nicovich of the RESULTS Washington office to help the STEP program at Cornell. STEP is a group of students committed to ending poverty. They do a lot of project work and are looking for training in advocacy -- and the Cedar Rapids RESULTS group was recommended to them for this training. It will start once students return in late August. They would like to help with our projects in return for the training, so I was thinking they might like to help with the November bread buttering.

Then Allison and I talked about the RESULTS Diversity Task Force. Since Monica Jolles in Chapel Hill, NC is also going to head up a Pilot City Project program, Allison suggested Monica and I develop a support network for the two cities and report back to the task force. I've made the commitment to contact two more communities of color by our next Diversity Task Force call on August 20.

Jeffrey Sachs, economist, will speak on foreign aid reform on the monthly conference call this Saturday. Election cycle items will also be featured.

Domestic call July 31

Douglas is going to start us on a new regimen. Each month we will work on one way to make our groups stronger. This is going to be tough for me, as I think our group is already mighty strong! But I will do my best on this task.

Senator Grassley voted against S. 3335, the $8500 threshold for the Child Tax Credit. Since we won't be "officially" meeting in August to take action (except for training Leland and Nancy), let's make this our August action: call Senator Grassley's office, using the laser talk below if you like, some time during the August recess. His Washington number is 202-224-3744. Ask to talk to Ryan Abraham. Or call his Cedar Rapids office at 363-6832 and ask to talk to Mary.

"Senator, I am very disappointed that you did not vote for H.R.6049 orS.3335, the House and Senate tax extenders bills. These bills both include a Child Tax Credit provision which sets the income eligibility threshold at $8,500 for 2008, which will benefit 13 million children in this country and 100,000 Iowa children. When families are struggling with rising food and gas prices, there is no excuse for delay on this issue. I expect you to pass a responsible tax extenders bill in September that includes an $8,500 threshold for the Child Tax Credit."

Douglas always ends our call with a joke. This week it was a story about a man with a hamster. He took the hamster to the vet because the little pet was lethargic. The vet examined the hamster and said, "I'm sorry, sir. Your hamster is dead." The man was astonished at this. He said, "I want a second opinion." So the vet opened the door and brought in a dog from the hallway. The large, black dog sniffed the hamster and poked it with its nose and looked up at the vet and just shook its head. The vet told the man, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, sir, but your hamster is dead." The man said, "There's no way this hamster is dead. I want another opinion. So the vet opened the door and in walked a cat, who looked shook it's little head. The vet looked at the man and said, "Again, sir, I'm sorry. Your hamster is dead. And here is today's bill."

The man looked at the bill. It was for $1000. The man cried out, "How in the world can you charge me $1000 just to tell me my hamster is dead?"

"Well," said the vet, "there's my examination and diagnosis, plus the Lab report, plus the CAT scan."

Diversity Task Force conference call July 30

INTRODUCTIONS: INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE DEBRIEF
Betsy (Miami): Diversity Task Force moved forward exponentially in last month. Asked for update from board, no response yet (but Betsy lobbied him between FL lobby visits). Surprised that more folks didn't sign up. Kudos to Lorna for moderating. Impressed with diversity of Canadian attendees.
Monica (Durham NC): people want training materials and specific strategies when group doesn't represent.
Jesus (DC area): Task Force initially had broad focus, now streamlined to 4-5 initiatives and marshalled resources. NGO exhibit fair-- would benefit from more visual display materials for tabling at other org's conferences (MD reviewed what we have). thanks to Meredy for coordinating translators.
Meredith (DC): liked having tangible materials, looked coordinated and professional. Need to follow up with those who expressed interest, inc Ruth Birchett
Diane (Cedar Rapids): very excited to be pilot city, she's adapting Faith in Action materials for Native American audiences. Need help with training materials: Hindu, Moslem, Catholic (in Spanish)-- so asking local contacts for help developing culturally/spiritually appropriate.
Sarah (DC): inspiring to see people in person, got excited about pilot project.

INCREASE VISIBILTY
web presence- get diversity section of our website (link to info from homepage, About Us)- then get "diversity" in Google Adwords

SURVEY OF RESULTS NETWORK
Combine with survey that marketing committee would roll out to our network?- Jesus will follow up with Scott re: status (and incorp diversity into marketing)Draft series of questions (consult marketing survey of general population) to use for combined or separate survey- send out within 2-3 months- Monica will circulate draft questions for feedback.

LONG-TERM RECOMMENDATIONS AND BOARD RESPONSE
Betsy will follow up with Douglas Lichterman- board discussion for our 5 recs (notes pasted below)? If not, when?- request: issue board statement demonstrating support- also need Joanne statement

PILOT PROJECT
See above for Cedar Rapids
Chapel Hill group: group mtg Tue 8/5 and will adapt Cedar Rapids' plan

NEXT STEPS/CALL= Wed August 20 8:30-9:30 pm ET: (888) 955-5369; passcode: 197427

Looking ahead: 9/15-10/15 Hispanic Heritage month

BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS (MD notes from June):

1. Diversity/anti-oppression training-- 2-stage plan
A. identify people from specific regions amongst our groups to be a part of a leadership ("SWAT") team for 2-day training
B. they are then responsible for leading trainings in their own region including travel to local groups ** budget: $25,000 ($15,000 for travel/room/board for 15 participants + $5000 for trainer fees + $5000 for local travel). Note: does NOT include any staff time (though can use college interns for credit), limited funds for travel to local groups)

2. Diversity assessment of own organization (Meredy)- for grassroots baseline: could roll into survey envisioned by marketing committee post-conference - also identify baseline re: board, staff, etc.- then identify next steps and make specific recommendations (Meredith: include goals)** budget: $50,000 (guess, Sarah will research specific number)

3. Develop set of materials and best practices for our groups to use in their own outreach (Betsy)- build on the work done by Betsy and others already to compile possible partners- have specific staff time (or additional staff resources) devoted to managing this** budget: TBD, must inc staff time, materials (Niambi will research)

4. As Marketing Committee moves forward, ultimately "re-brands" organization, make diversity issues a key component (Betsy)- ex. on our website** budget: none (absorbed by marketing)

5. Taking diversity to policy level in organization - institutionally support diversity through board policies (Sarah)- then reflected in our work across organization- QUESTION: what has the Board already adopted vis-à-vis diversity? If not, what are next steps to make this happen? ** budget: $1000 for legal review

Domestic Call July 24

We had the full complement of group leaders on the call today -- Lois from Baltimore, Tom from Des Moines, Paul from Minneapolis, Douglas, our beloved regional coordinator from St. Petersburg, and me.



We didn't talk about legislative news, but caught up on news from the four groups. Everyone is excited about Nancy joining our group. She will be on the conference call this Saturday. Tom is the only group leader on this call who wasn't in DC, so after last year not going, I had a sense for how left out he must have felt with all the talk about the conference.



Ours is the largest and seemingly most active group, so you can be proud of that. And I sent all my follow-up emails today after the lobbying meetings. So I can cross that off my list.

No news yet on Congress resolving the income minimum for the Child Tax Credit. TheHouse has it at $8500; the Senate at $10000. And no news yet on the Healthcare Disparities Bill that would seek to equalize healthcare access across racial and ethnic lines.

July 23

I talked to Allison, our global Regional Coordinator, on Tuesday rather than Wednesday this week because there was a possibility of a conflict with a Diversity Task Force call on Wednesday. As it turned out, the Diversity Task Force conflict is going to be next Wednesday, when I also have a conflict with an Inter-Religious Council meeting on Flood Recovery. I think, since I update the Churches United Flood Recovery web site, that I am going to miss the IRC meeting and be on the DTF call.

PEPFAR Bill:
The Lantos-Hyde HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria Reauthorization Act passed the Senate 80-16 with one amendment: rather than $50B, $2B will be directed toward clean water and healthcare for Native American Reservations. Allison thought that money could have been done through a different bill. For me, I'm just glad we have a bill coming out of the Senate! And $2B for health on reservations is a worthy cause. The House is expected to pass the Senate bill and then it will go to the President for his signature. This is a huge increase, and one we should celebrate.

August Congressional Recess:
We need to stay in touch with aides during this time as they will be in contact with our members of Congress during the recess.

Jeff Sachs on Global Conference Call August 9:
Jeff Sachs is an economist who has been at Harvard and is currently with the Columbia Earth Institute. He is an expert in the economics of poverty. This call should be exciting! I have reserved the Library at Christ Church for the domestic and global calls both.

July 15

Today was Day One of Lobby Day. Jos and I had four appointments and were called in to help on a fifth.

The day started with a breakfast in the Dirksen Senate Office Building. It was a hot breakfast buffet and the Senator from Wyoming -- I don't remember his name -- spoke. It was inspiring. He told stories that were straight from the RESULTS teachings on using stories effectively.

The it was into a cab and off to the House Offices side of the Hill. Our first appointment was at 11, in Congressman Loebsack's office. He had been called out to a meeting, so we met with his Legislative Aide, Megan Linn. I started out the meeting by asking her to thank the Congressman for coming to Cedar Rapids during the flood and for serving meals for the Red Cross over the 4th of July. She seemed genuinely grateful for the acknowledgement. I talked about the need to reform the way the US delivers foreign aid -- purchasing food in the US and shipping it on US vessels. It costs twice as much to purchase the food here versus purchasing food overseas. House Resolution 1268 would change the rules for USAID. She seemed interested and took the fact sheet on it. I will follow up with Kara Marchione (who we had requested be in the meeting but wasn't) as she is the foreign aid aide. Jos talked about the possibility of the Congressman being a leader on health care reform. That's one of the first things he had done when coming to Washington was sign on to cosponser HR 676, a Medicare for All bill. Jos is going to follow up on that issue.

Then it was off to the Rayburn building for lunch and strategizing with other RESULTS members.

Our second meeting was with Jos' Congressman, Leonard Boswell at 1. He had just had surgery and wasn't back in the office yet so we met with his aide. I said I had heard the Congressman had a successful surgery and she perked up, telling us he was sick of being in bed and wanting to get back to work. I did the same ask on House Resolution 1268 and Jos did healthcare reform and the child tax credit. It was a good meeting.

Then back to the Rayburn Building for a 1:45 with the Des Moines group leader's Congressman, a conservative Republican, Tom Latham. When I said I was concerned that US aid dollars weren't going far enough, he perked up. But he wasn't interested in HR 1268. Said the trade unions and ag interests would argue against it. But he was kind about the way he said it. He turned Jos down on every domestic thing he brought up. We just couldn't find any common ground with Latham. But the meeting was cordial nonetheless.

Then back into a cab and over to the Hart Senate Office Building. The Senate was voting on PEPFAR amendments this afternoon and we got to watch part of the debate on the TV in Grassley's office. At three we were ushered into his office and told he had been called to a meeting in Finance but we had three of his top aides in the room. I asked the aides to thank Grassley for coming to Cedar Rapids during the flood, and they were so kind, wanting to know if I had been affected. I had permission to tell my niece's story, so I did. They were concerned about FEMA getting to Cedar Rapids quickly and told me a delegation from Cedar Rapids had been there earlier in the afternoon to talk about tax credits. I told them we needed federal dollars for a buy-out in the 100-year flood plain. And then we got down to business.

Jos talked about healthcare reform, and Grassley's health aide explained his position, which is a "let the private sector fix it" solution. They were interested in the child tax credit minimum being set at $8500, as in the House. Grassley being the watchdog that he is, Jos and I thought asking him to see that USAID funds for microcredit be spent according to the 2004 mandate, which is 50 percent of the funds going to the very poor. I told the story of Muhammed Yunus being asked what the first thing a woman does with the proceeds from a microcredit loan. You might think it would be to put her children in school or feed her family better. No, the first thing a woman does is to bring her children home. The very poor who can't afford to feed their children will sell them into child labor for a handful of rice. So when she has money, the first thing she does is to buy her children back. And Congress has the right to oversee how USAID spends microfinance dollars, and can enforce the 2004 mandate that 50 percent go to the very poor.

Then it was time to come back and fill out paperwork. Since we did both global and domestic lobbying we had to fill out paperwork on both sets of issues. Jos was smart enough to have the forms with him and fill them out during the day. I had that job once I got back.

I called my mother tonight when I got back and told her I understood the value of coming to Washington. It's one thing to see a member of Congress in their home office, but when you come to their turf to lobby, it's the next step up in building that relationship. So I'm coming back next year, God willing.

Going to do a couple of things differently next year, though.

July 14

What a day! The morning started with the domestic plenary: perspectives on healthcare reform. Julie Barnew, Deputy Director of the Health Policy Program at New America Foundation spoke about bills pending which would create a single payer system in the US. This is colloquially known as Medicare for All, since there would be one payor, the government, but private providers (doctors and hospitals). Their web site is www.newamerica.net

At 10:30 was the campaign review and lobby requests sessions. I was already set with the global lobbying I was going to do, and the atmosphere in the domestic room was much gentler than in the global room so I sat in.

I had a candy bar for lunch because I set up the table for the NGO display for the RESULTS Diversity Task Force. I worked the table from 1 to 2 with Monica Jolles from Durham, NC. I had some great conversations with people about adding people of color and people of low income to our groups in order that they can tell their stories to members of Congress personally.

At 3 p.m. I sat in on a session about going deep with your member of Congress led by Sam Daley-Harris, founder of RESULTS. It had to do with finding compelling stories and telling them effectively in order to develop more than a superficial relationship with your MoC.

At 4 was a fundraising workshop with Gwen Garcelon and Sam, Growing Your Inviting Power. I did a share about my experience with inviting Nancy to join our group, the first of six invitations I'm going to issue on our behalf in the communities of color in Cedar Rapids. It was standing at the podium right next to Sam. I think he noticed me because he was listening to the story I was telling. I found out during the workshop that I'm basically not afraid of asking anybody for anything.

Then it was time for supper, which I had while working on my lobbying presentations for tomorrow. At 7 Jos came down to the Hill Room and we went over strategy for an hour in preparation for our meetings. I'm not nervous. It's not that I don't care; it's just that these members of Congress don't scare me. They're human beings who wanted to come to Washington to make a difference in people's lives. I'm there to help them fulfill their mission by asking for legislation that will make a difference in the lives of people living in poverty and hunger. I hope that's not arrogant, because I don't mean it to be. It all seems quite simple to me.

I miss you all terribly. I wish Iowa were closer to Washington so it was easier for us to get here. I am going to thank Loebsack, Grassley and Harkin for coming to Cedar Rapids during the flooding. I want them to know it meant a lot to us that they would make that trip to let us know they were watching out for us all.

July 13

The highlight of the morning was the presentation by Michel Kazatchkine, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Before heading up the Global Fund, which is a fund countries like the US contribute to in order that the GF might make grants to developing countries to fight these diseases of poverty, Michel was a physician, researcher and diplomat around AIDS.

Ninety percent of the burden of diseases is concentrated in developing countries. Yet developing countries account for 20 percent of global health dollars and 12 percent of medical expenditures. Therefore, health is now a prerequisite for development. health is an investment for the mid- and the long-term.

What people thought was impossible is now becoming possible. Action is necessary for change.

There is now evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of AIDS drug treatment.

2002 was the initiation of the GF. It has to date disbursed $6B in 584 grants to 134 countries. Responding to demand, 60 percent of the grants have been to fight AIDS; 14 percent to fight TB; and 25 percent to fight malaria. Ninety-three percent of the funding is to low-income countries. In the years since the GF started, 1.7 million people have been treated with intivirals and 60 million bed nets have been distributed. There have been decreases by 40-90 percent of malaria deaths in two years.

The risk today is conplacency.

The afternoon started with a panel featuring David Lane, executive director of the ONE Campaign and Michael Petit, founder and president of Every Child Matters Education Fund. Jos works with the Every Child Matters group in Des Moines. I am going to talk to him to see about us doing some partnering with them. They will Thursday release Homeland Insecurity II, a report on the sad state of affairs for the children in this country.

The skills workshop I attended was the one put together by the Diversity Task Force. It was rather sad. The African-American woman on the panel let it be known in no uncertain terms that unless you were black, she had nothing in common with you and didn't want to hear what you had to say. I was saddened by that attitude. How limiting it is. And how limited is the growth potential.

At 5:30 was the Grassroots Awards Celebration. Douglas, our domestic regional coordinator encouraged me to attend. Now I know why. He and Allison, our global regional coordinator, took the stage and began talking about the Cedar Rapids group -- how much we have achieved in just a year and a half. Next thing I know I'm called on stage to receive the Energizer Bunny group leader award.

Tonight it rained, but Douglas wanted to take me to the Dubliner, a place he frequents when in DC and about three blocks from the hotel. We had a lovely dinner serenaded by live musicians. I had the shepherd's pie. It was scruptious. We dined for 90 minutes and then I came back to blog. Now I'm headed down to the Karaoke Party at which Jos does his Elvis channeling.

July 12

The conference began for me today with Leadership Day. And we weren't 15 minutes into Leadership Day when Ken Patterson asked me to do a share on how I came to RESULTS. I explained about hearing Jos Linn speak at the Zero Poverty Symposium and that it touched me at such an emotional level that I started to cry. I'll put the text of the share on the RESULTS page on the Christ Church web site yet tonight so you can see it.

Important point here -- don't ride 28 hours on a train by yourself and expect to be emotionally strong. I got to the part in the share where it said, "I started to cry." and I started to cry. Must have been okay, though, because I got a rousing ovation when it was over and five or six people came up to me to thank me for sharing.

I also told the story of why I call Jos "Grandfather." I'll put the share on the website tonight. You can find it at www.christepiscopal.org and look for the RESULTS page on the left side of the screen.

I had supper with Jos and that was a delight. I had a caesar salad. Had missed breakfast and lunch, so getting some fiber sounded like a good idea.

Tomorrow Gwen Garcelon, fundraiser expert for RESULTS, is going to do a share about our ice cream social.

July 10-12

Well, my friends, I'm finally in Washington. The 28-hour train ride was exhausting. My sight-seeing afternoon was spent on a slow train from Chicago. I did get to sit next to a very kind and delightful man from Newport New, VA, who was kind enough to leave me alone for the most part, as I was busy thinking about my presentations.

I feel like this conference is going to be the Diane Show! I make a presentation this afternoon (Saturday) telling the story of how Jos Linn came to the Zero Poverty Conference to make a RESULTS presentation that hit me at such a deep emotional level that I ended up in tears and barely able to tell him I wanted to be part of RESULTS. I'm going to add to that story the reason I call Jos "Grandfather." Given that I'm part -- a very small part, but a part nonetheless -- Mohawk I feel okay about adopting that Native American tradition which gives the term of respect Grandfather to our elders. Jos started this group and kept us going and has always been there for us, and he is our RESULTS Grandfather. He laughs when I call him that.

Then Monday afternoon I give a presentation on our Pilot City program in Cedar Rapids for the RESULTS Diversity Task Force and report on our first meeting with a contact in a target population, and how Nancy wants to join our group. BTW, Nancy is an educator at Mt. Mercy. She has a degree in math and a degree in physics -- two subjects I've always avoided because they are so confusing for me.

And sometime during the three days Gwen Garcelon, the Fundraising Guru for RESULTS is going to talk about our ice cream social. I'm glad she does this presentation and not me. Otherwise, it would truly be the Diane Show!

I went to the Washington National Cathedral this morning and it's breathtaking. In its shadow, waiting for the doors to be open to the public, I wrote my presentations. And I've met the most fascinating cab drivers here. Kate, it was easy to get a cab from the train station to the hotel. The driver showed me a picture of his seven-month-old son Mohammed. And this morning coming back from the cathedral my cab driver was originally from Ethiopia. He takes his nine-year-old son to the library every two weeks and lets his son check out a book. Then, in order to get his allowance, his son delivers an oral book report on what he's read. So nice to see parents so involved with their children's education.

I'm beginning now to memorize what I'm going to say during our lobbying meetings. I have about an hour before I have to check out and the conference starts. After this afternoon's session, I check back in with my two roommates. I need to revise things a little for the Congressmen. And I saw on the news that Boswell just got out of surgery and "expects to be back to work soon." I don't know if he's going to be back by Tuesday. I hope so. Did you see Senator Kennedy came back for a vote?

July 3 update

Because of the holiday weekend we didn't have a global call last night.

On the domestic call today I learned that the results of the healthcare survey showed a majority of RESULTS volunteers who took the survey showed interest in a single-payer plan, but there was some trepidation as to whether RESULTS should back single-payer now or wait. Douglas says that, depending on the outcome of the Board meeting (he is a member of the RESULTS Board), RESULTS will probably back single-payer first. There is a summary of the survey coming soon.

Expanding Child Tax Credits passed the House in May and is currently active in the Senate. If it is still active at our July meeting, contacting Grassley and Harkin will be one of our options for action.

A mom was preparing pancakes for her two sons, Ryan, 5, and Spencer, 3. While she was prepping the breakfast, she overheard the boys arguing about who was going to get the first pancake. She decided to teach them a moral lesson. She went to the table and told them, "If Jesus were here, he would say, 'My brother, I want you to have the first pancake.'" Ryan then said to Spencer, "My brother, I'll give you the first chance to be Jesus."

Updates for Week of June 23

Seems like a long time since I've blogged. Forgive me for letting things slide.

The July Conference Call will be Saturday, July 26 at 1 p.m. This will be a joint Domestic and Global call recounting some of the adventures of the International Conference. Please let me know if you'd like to attend. I can see if the Library at Christ Church is open for us to gather.

The Diversity Task Force is going to have a brochure and four fact sheets for the International Conference. The brochure details some of the work of the task force and has a sign-up sheet for more information. The fact sheets are similar to the HR 3014 Healthcare Disparities Bill action sheet in that they detail ethnic statistics in four different areas. I will bring copies to the RESULTS meeting on July 21.

We have the go-ahead to start work on our Pilot City project for the Diversity Task Force. I hope to have a meeting with my Native American contact before I go to the conference. We have identified six minority communities in the Cedar Rapids area, as we discussed at our June meeting -- African American, Hindu American, Hispanic, Muslim, Jewish and Native American. I have contacts in each of these communities who can help me set up outreach meetings. What we learn we will share with the rest of the RESULTS community across the country.

Jos and I are going to be lobbying together at the conference. We have appointments with Senators Harkin and Grassley and Congressmen Loebsack and Boswell. Meredith Dodson suggested today that we also make an appointment with Congressman Latham. Jos is going to lobby on Domestic issues such as healthcare for all and child tax credits. I am going to lobby on Global issues. I have a phone appointment with Jenn Mauer for next Tuesday to talk about what global issues would be best for each of these members of Congress.

On the Saturday night of the conference, there is what they call the Parade of Groups. Each state name is called and groups in that state are introduced. Everyone brings something representative of their state. Polly and John Ely once brought an ear of corn. Since there's no corn this year, I'm going to take a bottle of flood mud.

I'm also going to take copies of our op-eds and letters to the editor to hand out to members of Congress and others who might be interested.

Polly Ely Memorial June 7

I knew Polly through RESULTS, the citizens grassroots organization that lobbies Congress to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty.

John and Polly were the RESULTS group in Cedar Rapids for many years. Then, a group of seven of us got together in 2006, and Polly joined us in 2007 after John died. I think she enjoyed working within a group rather than being the group!

We would meet in her home to listen to the monthly conference calls and Polly’s energy began to be apparent to me. She had previously been interested in the global side of legislation, especially Microcredit. But when she started listening to the domestic conference calls, she got excited about that legislation as well.

Around the first of the year we were doing our annual planning and one of the things I was looking for, as group leader, was help in establishing relationships with Congressional aides in Washington. I asked for a volunteer to work with Senator Grassley’s office, and Polly didn’t hesitate. She said, “John was in the Legislature with Grassley. I’ll call Chuck’s office.”

Then, when I asked for a volunteer for Senator Harkin’s office, she volunteered for that as well. When there was a bill in the Senate that needed a phone call from RESULTS in Cedar Rapids, all I would have to do was to call Polly. We would go over what the phone call should cover and I would ask her to let me know when she had made the call. I figured in a few days I’d get a call back from her. But only 10 minutes later, Polly would call me back. She had made calls to both Senate offices and she filled me in on the content of the calls.

In February our group met with Congressman Loebsack and Polly was excited to talk about Microcredit. When the Congressman came in, he asked Polly’s permission to give her a hug. I couldn’t have asked for a more well-connected RESULTS group member.

Polly was an inspiration to all of us in RESULTS. Her energy and enthusiasm for RESULTS is a model we can all aspire to.

The last conversation I had with Polly was when she was staying on Cottage Grove. She talked about how much she missed John and looked forward to being with him. We talked about the RESULTS International Conference coming up this July, and she said how great it would be if she were still alive for the conference. She and John will both be looking over the international conference and will continue to inspire us to work to end poverty and hunger.

LTE June 4

Cedar Rapids Gazette:
Forming New Department Could Help End Poverty
I would like to thank the Gazette for recent coverage of the global food crisis. Experts estimate the rise in food prices may drive 100 million people deeper into poverty. The problem is not a lack of food, but a lack of political will to ensure people do not go hungry.

Immediate relief is necessary, but will not address the underlying causes of global food instability. While the U.S. publicly states a commitment to helping poor countries, our policies frequently conflict with the achievement of those goals. For example, we deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of food aid every year, but mandate that the food must be purchased from subsidized U.S. agribusiness and shipped on U.S. vessels. For every dollar we spend on food aid, 65 cents is spent on shipping and other processing costs.

Foreign aid must be clearly focused on bettering the lives of poor people. Programs should be held accountable for demonstrating clear, measurable results in health, education and economic opportunity in the lives of the poorest — those living on less than a dollar a day.

As a RESULTS (advocacy organization committed to ending hunger and poverty) volunteer, I support a cabinet-level Department of Global Development which could help create the opportunity for such reforms. With the support of Congress, it should be a priority for the next administration to work efficiently and effectively toward the end of poverty.

Diane John-Smith
Marion, IA 52302

Domestic Call May 29

When I reported on the Cedar Rapids group, I reported how excited we all were about our upcoming ice cream social. I also reported that we would be collecting money for a memorial for John and Polly Ely for RESULTS Microcredit. Paul from Minneapolis knew the Elys, and he is sending money for the memorial. Also Lois from Baltimore wants to contribute.

The Baltimore group is hosting a healthcare forum Sunday afternoon. They have invited local doctors to speak and expect about 50 people. I wonder if we could think about a forum in Cedar Rapids -- not necessarily on healthcare. Perhaps on the world food crisis or some other issue. Ideas escape me right now. Something to think about?

Global Call May 28

The Supplemental Bill is going to conference committee because the Senate version is virtually unrecognizeable compared to the version the House passed.

PEPFAR is still being held up in the Senate by seven Republicans. Efforts are underway to work with "reasonable" Republican Senators to stop this block. Grassley is not on the list of Senators targeted for this effort.

Paul Farmer is going to be on the conference call June 14. According to the Harvard Medical School website, "Medical anthropologist and physician Paul Farmer is a founding director of Partners In Health, an international charity organization that provides direct health care services and undertakes research and advocacy activities on behalf of those who are sick and living in poverty. Dr. Farmer’s work draws primarily on active clinical practice (he is an attending physician in infectious diseases and chief of the Division of Social Medicine and Health Inequalities at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) in Boston, and medical director of a charity hospital, the Clinique Bon Sauveur, in rural Haiti) and focuses on diseases that disproportionately afflict the poor. Along with his colleagues at BWH, in the Program in Infectious Disease and Social Change at Harvard Medical School, and in Haiti, Peru, and Russia, Dr. Farmer has pioneered novel, community-based treatment strategies for AIDS and tuberculosis (including multidrug-resistant tuberculosis). Dr. Farmer and his colleagues have successfully challenged the policymakers and critics who claim that quality health care is impossible to deliver in resource-poor settings."

Farm Bill Online Article

Mixed Reactions to U.S. Farm Bill
Caitlin G. JohnsonOneWorld US
Fri., May. 23, 2008
WASHINGTON, May 22 (OneWorld) - The $300 billion U.S. Farm Bill, which is expected to be passed into law despite this week's veto by President George W. Bush, is getting high marks from advocates of U.S. food and nutrition programs but was blasted by those concerned about the global poor and giveaways to the already rich.

The legislation that sets laws and spending guidelines for a range of nutritional and agricultural programs doesn't usually attract much public notice when it comes up for reauthorization every five years. This year, however, may be different. Congress passed the bill with a bipartisan majority big enough to reverse Wednesday's veto by President Bush -- marking only the second time a veto of his would be overturned. Then a procedural mistake was uncovered, meaning the bill will likely be passed in Congress and vetoed again in the coming days before the Senate and House of Representatives make their final votes to enact the legislation.

But as the political maneuvering continues in Washington, advocates and others around the country are vocally calling attention to what they see as bill's pros and cons: a significant increase in domestic nutrition funding on one hand; big subsidies for "mega-farms" and worrisome foreign food aid rules on the other.

Strengthening Food Programs at Home
Anti-poverty advocates praise the bill for adding more than $10 billion over 10 years to key domestic nutrition programs, including free fruits and vegetable snacks in schools with high shares of low-income students and the Food Stamp program, which is expected to reach a record 28 million enrollees this year.

The bill also adjusts food stamp benefits and tax-time deductions to keep pace with rising prices and allows families to deduct more child care expenses from their income -- a move that will mean an average of nearly $500 a year more in food stamps for some 100,000 households, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a policy analysis organization.

"As a package, this is the most significant set of improvements in the Food Stamp Program in nearly 15 years," Stacy Dean, director of food assistance policy for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told One World. Results, a grassroots citizens lobby organization, called the bill "an important first step toward the goal of ending hunger in America."

Diane John-Smith who lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, turned to food stamps when she was unemployed for two years. She says she had to spend down her 401K retirement fund in order to be eligible for food stamps. Since 1986, the food stamp asset limits have remained $2,000 for most households -- meaning anyone with savings, a car, or other assets greater than that amount is generally ineligible for enrollment. The new Farm Bill "unfreezes" those limits by indexing them to inflation, so they will not decrease in real value each year.

John-Smith says it is about time the food stamp program got an update and more funding. "I am just so gratified [by the increase in funds]. $10 billion over ten years is significant and it's going to make a difference for a lot of people."

Concern Over "Mega-Farm" Subsidies and Foreign Aid Rules
At the same time, some aid organizations are criticizing the bill for failing to fix what they call a "broken" system of U.S. food aid abroad and increasing subsidies to wealthy farmers at home, at the expense of smaller farmers. "Although we, too, cheer the increases for programs for nutrition, Congress failed to deliver any serious reform [on farm policy and food aid]," Laura Rusu, a spokesperson for Oxfam America, told OneWorld.

"The current subsidy system does little to protect family farmers in the U.S. or alleviate problems in rural America. Taxpayers actually provide the funds that enable the biggest producers to gobble up smaller farms, driving land prices up and making it difficult for family farmers to afford to stay in business, and nearly impossibly for beginning farmers just starting out," she added. According to Oxfam, the largest 10 percent of producers receive about 75 percent of the $20 billion in U.S. commodity subsidies each year.

Leo Tammi, a sheep and livestock farmer in Mount Sidney, Virginia, says he's pleased that the bill adds money for nutrition and conservation, but is "more than a little disappointed that there wasn't the kind of reform in crop subsidy payments that many of us were hoping for." "I think most taxpayers wonder why we need to subsidize the upper-income mega-farms that will continue to be receiving the subsidies," he told OneWorld.

Oxfam and its allies -- including national groups such as the Environmental Working Group, the Center for Rural Affairs, Citizens Against Government Waste, and the Episcopal Church -- also fault the bill for failing to shift U.S. food aid policy away from an emphasis on U.S.-grown commodities to offering more cash assistance that would enable countries to buy more quickly and directly from local sources. Such a move, they say, would make U.S. assistance abroad much more efficient and support local industries in those countries at the same time, helping break the long-term cycle of poverty.

For some groups that support the domestic provisions -- which make up two thirds of the Farm Bill's focus -- the commodity subsidy provisions made it a difficult decision to support the bill. "As pleased as we are with the nutrition title, we are as equally disappointed in Congress' failure to enact meaningful commodity reform," Jos Linn, Results' domestic outreach organizer, told OneWorld.

"To make only cosmetic changes to a system that continues to reward rich farms at the expense of struggling farmers is inexcusable. Commodity supports also exacerbate world poverty through their trade-distorting effects and strain relations with our trade allies."

Linn was referring to the phenomenon that allows U.S. farmers to sell their goods abroad at excessively low prices because the subsidies provided by U.S. taxpayers make up the difference in revenue. This drives down prices -- and incomes -- for farmers around the world, and creates particular hardship for those in Africa and other parts of the world where vast majorities of the population depend on income from farming. "Congress chose the easy way out," added Linn, "and we all will have to pay for it."

In a statement quoted by the Food Research and Action Center, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) said the bill was the result of necessary compromise. "This bill has reform in it. Could we have done more? Perhaps, but had we done more, we would not have gotten a bill. What did we get as a result of the compromises made? We got nutrition. What a wonderful thing. We got food stamps," Reid is quoted as saying.

Before his veto, Bush called the bill "bloated" and costly. In a May 13 statement, the administration criticized the bill for failing "to reform subsidies to multimillionaire farmers at a time of high farm income and rising grocery prices."

Still Time for 'Tweaks'
Congress is expected to vote to override the veto, since the bill originally passed both houses with more than the two-thirds majority needed to do so. "There's still time for Congress to tweak the bill for reform while retaining the gains made on the nutrition front," said Oxfam's Laura Rusu. "A lot of Americans haven't paid attention to the Farm Bill debate, undoubtedly thinking, 'I'm not a farmer, this isn't for me.' But if you care about where your food comes from, where your taxpayer dollars go, and how we hurt or help poor people, you should care about the Farm Bill," she said.

RESULTS Diversity Task Force Strategies and Goals

Strategies:
A) Determine contact person in the minority community.B) Set up a meeting with the contact person to cover:

1) This is RESULTS
a) personal story
b) RESULTS activities locally and nationally
c) RESULTS campaigns for 2008

2) Intent of Diversity Task Force
a) Cedar Rapids is a pilot city
b) The identified minority communities are: African-American, Hindu-American, Hispanic, Jewish, Muslim-American, Native American
c) This community can join an existing RESULTS group or four members can function as a group within a Cedar Rapids coalition. We will listen to conference calls together, do fundraisers together, do outreach meetings together; we can hold second monthly meeting separately in order to focus on public or political education.

3) What I need from you (the contact person):
a) What do I need to know about your community? citizenship, culture, economics, language, literacy, transportation
b) Can you help me set up an informational meeting? Identify people who might be interested, invite the wider community

C) Hold informational meeting
1) Use Compassion and Empowerment presentation; Everyday Heroes DVD; testimonial from RESULTS activist; depending on literacy and citizenship of group, write letters to MoC or LTEs.
2) Collect contact information from interested people.
3) Set up training sessions.

Goals:
Native American community
Have meeting with contact by June 2008; 1 new member.

Hispanic community
Have meeting with contact by end of June 2008; do informational meeting by end of July 2008; 3 new members in training by end of August 2008.

Muslim-American community
Have meeting with contact by end of July 2008; do informational meeting by end of August 2008; 5 new members in training by end of September 2008.

Jewish community
Have meeting with contact by end of August 2008; do informational meeting by end of September 2008; 5 new members in training by end of October 2008.

Hindu-American community
Have meeting with contact by end of September 2008; do informational meeting by end of October 2008; 5 new members in training by end of November 2008.

African-American community
Establish contact by end of June 2008; meet with contact by end of October 2008; do informational meeting by end of November 2008; 5 new members in training by end of January 2009.

Leslee's Op-Ed Published May 18

Better world through education

I’ve had the opportunity this school year of volunteering in my daughter’s kindergarten class. No, not as a parent of a kindergarten child, but as the parent of the teacher. As I’ve worked with these beautiful children, I’ve witnessed their skills grow from knowing a only few letters and sounds to reading books. What pride they have when they finish reading and get to take the books home to read to their parents. Seeing these 5- and 6-yearolds and their first public school experiences makes me wonder what they will choose for careers as adults. They will learn much over the course of their next 12 years in school. Lucky children — attaining an education is their fundamental right. Unfortunately, education as a fundamental right is not the case in many developing countries of the world. As a member of RESULTS, a grass-roots advocacy organization committed to ending hunger and poverty, I have learned that education in developing countries is the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty. However, consider: . More than 72 million primary (elementary) school children around the world are not in school; 226 million do not have access to secondary education. . There are many reasons why children do not attend school: school fees, child labor, poor quality schooling, health crises such as HIV/ AIDS, discrimination and conflict. . Nearly 70 percent of the world’s out-of-school children live in South/West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. . Studies find that 100 million girls enrolled in school will drop out before completing primary schooling often because of their inability to pay fees or because they are needed to take care of their household where a parent is dying of AIDS. . Less than 10 percent of children with disabilities are in school. . The ability to attend school is only the first challenge. In some places, there may be as many as 150 children in each classroom and not enough teachers or supplies. In 2000, 189 countries, including the United States, agreed to support the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals for reducing global poverty by 2015. One of the eight goals includes universal access to education and equal access among boys and girls. The United States’ commitment is falling far short of what was pledged. In 2006, we gave a total of $477 million to education in developing countries — the approximate cost of building just 17 U.S. high schools. The Education for All Act is bipartisan legislation that would authorize an initial $1 billion in global education funding for this year, scaling up to $3 billion by 2012. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin and Rep. David Loebsack — please co-sponsor this act. We’re all better off when the children of the world are educated.

Leslee Sandberg of Cedar Rapids is a retired longtime educator and member of the Cedar Rapids RESULTS group.

Leslee's Op-Ed Published May 18

Better world through education

I’ve had the opportunity this school year of volunteering in my daughter’s kindergarten class. No, not as a parent of a kindergarten child, but as the parent of the teacher. As I’ve worked with these beautiful children, I’ve witnessed their skills grow from knowing a only few letters and sounds to reading books. What pride they have when they finish reading and get to take the books home to read to their parents. Seeing these 5- and 6-yearolds and their first public school experiences makes me wonder what they will choose for careers as adults. They will learn much over the course of their next 12 years in school. Lucky children — attaining an education is their fundamental right. Unfortunately, education as a fundamental right is not the case in many developing countries of the world. As a member of RESULTS, a grass-roots advocacy organization committed to ending hunger and poverty, I have learned that education in developing countries is the most effective way to break the cycle of poverty. However, consider: . More than 72 million primary (elementary) school children around the world are not in school; 226 million do not have access to secondary education. . There are many reasons why children do not attend school: school fees, child labor, poor quality schooling, health crises such as HIV/ AIDS, discrimination and conflict. . Nearly 70 percent of the world’s out-of-school children live in South/West Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. . Studies find that 100 million girls enrolled in school will drop out before completing primary schooling often because of their inability to pay fees or because they are needed to take care of their household where a parent is dying of AIDS. . Less than 10 percent of children with disabilities are in school. . The ability to attend school is only the first challenge. In some places, there may be as many as 150 children in each classroom and not enough teachers or supplies. In 2000, 189 countries, including the United States, agreed to support the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals for reducing global poverty by 2015. One of the eight goals includes universal access to education and equal access among boys and girls. The United States’ commitment is falling far short of what was pledged. In 2006, we gave a total of $477 million to education in developing countries — the approximate cost of building just 17 U.S. high schools. The Education for All Act is bipartisan legislation that would authorize an initial $1 billion in global education funding for this year, scaling up to $3 billion by 2012. Sens. Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin and Rep. David Loebsack — please co-sponsor this act. We’re all better off when the children of the world are educated.

Leslee Sandberg of Cedar Rapids is a retired longtime educator and member of the Cedar Rapids RESULTS group.

Polly's Funeral

I talked to Jos about coming to Cedar Rapids to speak at Polly service. He said he really didn't know her that well and felt pretty uncomfortable saying anything. So I told him I would be glad to talk about what Polly did for RESULTS.

Domestic call May 22

There were four of us on the call when Jos Linn joined to talk about the Farm Bill. Because of a clerical error in the House Ag Committee, 35 pages of the Farm Bill were not sent to the President. The House had voted to override the veto and didn't lose any votes compared to the original vote on the Farm Bill. Because of the error, the House will have to revote today on the bill and the Senate will revote today or tomorrow. Then the President will veto it, and both chambers will vote to override. Jos isn't worried. He says there's enough of a margin for an override.

I was interviewed yesterday by a web reporter on my Food Stamps experience. She took pause several times during our conversation. I think she was moved.

Global group call May 21

There were four of us on the call.

Allison read Leslee's oped word for word. She was very proud of the excellent job Leslee has done, as were others on the call.

Allison Gallaher, our regional coordinator emailed information about the Supplemental Spending Bill:
Last week, the House passed an emergency defense supplemental that includes $1.86 billion in emergency food aid. Only a small portion of this assistance was provided in the form of flexible cash assistance. The bill also includes a requirement for withdrawal deadlines from Iraq. The House defeated funding for the war. The bill goes to the Senate on Thursday.

Diversity Task Force Call May 21

There were seven of us on the call. The International Conference group has decided to have break-out sessions at the conference: a diverse panel discussing what we can do to reach various communities. There will also be an update on Leadership Day -- for Regional Coordinators and group leaders. There will be materials at the exhibit section. They have their work cut out for them. As for me, I have identified goals for each of six minority groups in the CR community and will email the group strategies and goals tomorrow.

Domestic Call May 8

I reported on our outreach meeting with Churches United's Zero Poverty Group on Monday. We faxed 10 letters to Senator Harkin's office Tuesday morning. Lois from Baltimore is gearing up for her healthcare forum on June 1. The focus will be Medicare reimbursement. Tom from Des Moines says his group is planning more outreach meetings in the DsM area at different communities of faith.

The focus of the conference call Saturday will be Healthcare for All by 2010.

Global Call May 7

We each talked about the things we're most proud of over the last three months and things we're looking forward to in the next three months. I chose our meeting with Congressman Loebsack as the thing I'm most proud of. I thought it was a wonderfully successful meeting. I look forward to seeing him in July to see if he remembers us! And I chose the diversity task force and Cedar Rapids being a pilot city as the thing I'm most looking forward to in the next three months.

David Beckman of Bread for the World is going to be the speaker on the conference call on Saturday, to talk about the world food shortage.

The Executive Director of the Global Fund is going to be a presenter at the international conference. That's big news!

Diversity Task Force: Pilot City Call

Cedar Rapids is one of the pilot cities for the diversity task force. I have identified three groups in which I have relationships with contacts already: the Asian Indian Americans; the Muslim Americans; and the Hispanic Christians. I need to develop a relationship with a leader in the African American community.

There is a good possibility that Chapel Hill, NC and Miami, FL will also be pilot cities.

We talked about the possibility of creating groups in each of these communities and getting together for monthly conference calls but each group functioning with its own leader and doing its own training, so long as leaders communicate on monthly actions to take and events planning.

There is another conference call for pilot cities next Wednesday and I will know more then.

May 1 Domestic Call

Farm Bill Update:

An agreement has pretty much been reached prior to the May 2 deadline. The issue now is the maximum income levels for farm commodity payments. Bush has threatened to veto the bill if the limit is set too high. Senator Grassley is meeting with Bush this afternoon to discuss the farm bill. We may be on the verge of having a new farm bill!

May 5 Outreach Presentation

Compassion and Empowerment

What is RESULTS? RESULTS is a non-profit, nonpartisan citizens grassroots network which exists to create the public and political will to end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty. RESULTS works on hunger and poverty in the US in its domestic campaigns, and on hunger and poverty in the world in its global campaigns. The Cedar Rapids Area RESULTS group is unique among RESULTS groups in that we work on both global and domestic issues.

I. Personal Story
Let me start tonight by telling you my own story. I am originally from Cedar Rapids. Went to Jefferson High School and then Wartburg College; worked at KHAK Radio and St. Luke’s Hospital. I grew up a Lutheran, and about 13 years ago converted to the Episcopal Church. I am very happily single and celibate, and I have a cat, Epiphany Jeanne Louise. I work on two Episcopal Church websites, I’m a member of the Board of the Inter-Religious Council and I do the website and newsletter for the local League of Women Voters. I enjoy working at the polls during elections because I get to reinforce voters for the decision they made to come in and vote.

a. LTEs and letters to members of Congress
For many years I used to write Letters to the Editor about issues that concerned me. Some of them got published and others did not. I used to email members of Congress relentlessly and very seldom got a response.

b. Feelings of powerlessness
All this left me feeling alone and powerless. I quit watching the news because it just depressed me to see the suffering and to know I was powerless to change anyone’s life. And then I lost my job and didn’t work for two years waiting to go on disability for bipolar disorder. During those two years I went to the welfare office once a month to get rent money and a $20 stipend for non-food products. And I fed myself with food stamps –I could afford potatoes, bread, macaroni and cheese and peanut butter. But no meat, no fruit and no vegetables. These didn’t fit into the one dollar per meal food stamp allotment.

c. And then RESULTS happened
And then I attended Churches United’s Zero Poverty Symposium in 2006 and my life changed. I heard a presentation on RESULTS and knew I had to be part of it. And it changed my outlook. And it changed my life.

II. Compassion and RESULTS
One word I want you to remember about RESULTS is compassion. Let me read you what Marcus J. Borg says about compassion in his book Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: In terms of feeling, compassion means “to feel with,” as even the etymology of the English word suggests: -passion comes from the Latin word that means “to feel,” and the prefix com- means “with.” Compassion thus means feeling the feelings of somebody else in a visceral way, at a level somewhere below the level of the head; most commonly compassion is associated with feeling the suffering of somebody else and being moved by that suffering to do something. That is, the feeling of compassion leads to being compassionate.
The DVD you’re about to see takes about 12 minutes, is a few years old, but what hasn’t aged is the compassion you’ll see and hear from people connected to RESULTS.
(Show DVD)

a. Compassion for those in poverty and hunger
RESULTS is all about having compassion for those living in poverty and hunger. It’s about having compassion for the nine million children in the US who have no health insurance. It’s about lobbying Congress on the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), or what we in Iowa know as Hawk-I.

RESULTS is about compassion for those on food stamps whose minimum benefit hasn’t been raised in over 10 years and lobbying Congress on the Farm Bill. The Farm Lobby spent $80m lobbying Congress on the Farm Bill, and had it not been for RESULTS and its allies, the Nutrition Title, which includes food stamps and emergency food aid, would not have come out of the conference committee with $10.2b in new funding over 10 years.

RESULTS is about compassion for healthcare for all by 2010, and lobbying Congressional candidates to put healthcare for all on top of their priority lists for the 2008 campaign.

RESULTS is about compassion for the 26,000 children who die each day from preventable causes, and lobbying Congress on the Child Survival Act which will provide easy-to-administer, affordable healthcare solutions that could save the lives of two-thirds of the children at risk of death.

b. Members of Congress have the same compassion
In each case I’ve just mentioned, there is legislation in Congress which indicates to me that our Representatives and Senators have the same compassion for those living in hunger and poverty that I do. What RESULTS has given me are the tools and opportunities to do something positive with my compassion.

III. Empowerment and RESULTS
Which leads me to the second word about RESULTS I want you to remember: empowerment. To talk about how she’s been empowered, I’d like to introduce you to Judy McDowell, another of our Cedar Rapids Area RESULTS activists. Judy?

a. Judy’s testimonial

b. Tools
Thank you, Judy. That was moving. RESULTS will teach you how to speak to a member of Congress, to a Congressional aide, to a newspaper editor, about the legislation which will end hunger and the worst aspects of poverty. RESULTS taught me how to write an effective letter to the editor, and I got help from RESULTS in preparing the op-ed that led me to speak to you tonight. RESULTS also taught me the most effective means of written communication with a member of Congress, the hand-written letter faxed to their Washington office. And tonight I’m going to share with you how to write an effective letter and I’ll take your letters and fax them for you so tomorrow morning they’ll be on the desk of a Congressional aide and they will be shared with your member of Congress.

c. Opportunities
RESULTS has also provided me with opportunities to focus my compassion. Our Cedar Rapids RESULTS group meets once a month for 60 to 90 minutes, to put our compassion to work, to be empowered to make changes in the lives of people who live in hunger and poverty.

IV. Conclusion
And now it’s time for you to put your compassion to work. Tonight, I want you to write a letter to Senator Tom Harkin about the need for Healthcare for All by 2010.

a. Letters to members of Congress: how to write
First, I want you to write on one side of the sheet only. A single-page letter is highly effective. Next, I want you to start your letter with your aim: that Senator Harkin make healthcare for all by 2010 a top priority in his campaign for reelection. Now, if you have a personal story, I want you to take about three sentences to tell that story. Maybe you’re without healthcare. Maybe you, like me, have healthcare now but you’ve been without it in the past. Maybe a friend or relative is without health insurance. Often, the personal story you relate will get read on the floor of the House or Senate in debate and end up in the Congressional Record. It’s real stories of real people that make your letter highly effective. Finally, I want you to print your name and mailing address very clearly at the bottom of your letter. It may take a while, but you should get a response from Senator Harkin. When you’re done, bring me your letter and I’ll fax it to Washington for you. With the anthrax screening of mail, it takes two to three weeks for a letter to get through to a Washington office, so we’ll be faxing your letters.

b. How to become a RESULTS activist and volunteer
Finally, becoming a RESULTS activist is easy. It requires having compassion and being willing to be empowered with the proper tools and education on specific legislation so that you can take the steps necessary to help change people’s lives. The training involves an hour every two weeks for six weeks. Then, if you’d like to become an activist, you agree to attend our meetings on the third Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church. And lastly, there is a financial commitment of $35 every year (or $15 for students and those on fixed incomes). If you cannot afford to contribute, you will not be excluded from RESULTS activities.

Questions?

I have really enjoyed being here with you tonight and I look forward to a richer Cedar Rapids RESULTS Group because of your decision to join us. Thank you.